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Holiness is not the luxury of the few; it is a simply duty, for you and for me, because Jesus has very clearly stated, 'Be ye holy as my father in heaven is holy.' So let us pray for each other that we grow in love for each other, and through this love become holy as Jesus wants us to be for he died out of love for us. One day I met a lady who was dying of cancer in a most terrible condition. And I told her, I say, 'You know, this terrible pain is only the kiss of Jesus - a sign that you have come so close to Jesus on the cross that he can kiss you.' And she joined her hands together and said, 'Mother Teresa, please tell Jesus to stop kissing me.

Agnes Gonxha (Mother Teresa) Bojaxhi#1

FaithSufferingHealingJesus

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About this quote

What does it mean?
Mother Teresa frames holiness as a duty and interprets suffering as closeness to Jesus, sharing an anecdote about a patient.
In plain terms
Holiness is everyone duty and suffering can be seen as Jesus touching you.
What can you take from it?
Suffering can be reframed as spiritual closeness.

Where it applies

  • visiting the sick
  • religious discussion
  • coping with pain

Putting it to work

  • spiritual counseling
  • writing about faith
  • comforting the ill

Questions to consider

  • Can suffering be seen as holy?
  • How do we comfort those in pain?

Another view

Reframing pain as a kiss may not comfort everyone and can seem dismissive.

More from Agnes Gonxha (Mother Teresa) Bojaxhi

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  2. Be kind to each other in your homes. Be kind to those who surround you. I prefer that you make mistakes in kindness rather than that you work miracles in unkin…

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  3. Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

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